Cotton-distributing apparatus.



No. 881,940. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908. A. H. MORTON.

COTTON DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION PILEDNOV.9.1904.

4 SHEETS -SHBBT I.

l V] TNE 55!? S [N I "ENTOR.

ATTORNEYS,

PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908, A. H. MORTON.

COTTON DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9. 1904.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

TSL

PATENTED MAR.17 1908. A. H. MORTON. I 00mm DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV 9, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 881,940. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

' A. H. MORTON.

COTTON DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATIOW FILED NOV.9.1904. 4 SHEBTS-SHBET 4.

ALBERT II. HORTON, OF LOWELL, llIASSAlTHUSETlTS.

COTTON-DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

No. ss1,940.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed November 9, 1904. Serial No. 232,01.

description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled .in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in cotton distributing apparatus for cotton mills.

In a-cottonmill, as usually arranged, the

storehouse in which the bales of cotton are stored and o ened, is, for convenience, and

for protection against tire, isolated from the building in which the p1cker-room 13 located,

and the cotton is transferred from the opening room to the picker room through a pneu lnatic conveyer terminating in a condenser which .lelivers the cotton in the picker room. The cotton which. accumulates at the condenser is then carried by operatives to the feeders which automatically furnish to the openers and brealzcr-lappers with which they are connected a uniform and constant supply of cotton as long they are kept supplied by the operatives. In this method of lnmdling and distributing the cotton the uniform operation of the feeders and the machines supplied thereby depends upon the 'igilance of the, operatives who supply them with cotton, and as one operative can supply only a few feeders, the expense of this method of distribution is considerable. This method is further objectionable in that the cotton which collects in bulk at the condenser is a source of fire risk, so that it is necessary to construct a bin to protect the cotton.

The object ofthe present invention is to rc-organize and improve the methods and apparatus for conveying and distributing the cotton in cotton mills; and the invention consists in the apparatus hereinafter described an d particularly defined in the claims.

One feature of the invention consists in providing an endless belt conveyor constantly running in the same direction for carrying cotton to a plurality of. receptacles with a plurality of independent devices for diverting the cotton from the belt to the receptacles, such diverting means being independently controlled bythe amount of cotton in each receptacle and located at intervals along the belt.

Another feature consists in combination with a )neumatic eonveyer such that by which the cotton is brought from the opener room to the picker room, of a condenser for collecting cotton brought by the conveyor and an endless belt arranged to receive the cotton from the condenser and to distribute it to a plurality of receptacles such. as the feeders of openers and breaker-lappers and means for controlling the delivery of cotton f om the endless belt into each receptacle according to the amount of cotton therein.

Other features of the invention are defined in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Figure l is a plan view showing a condenser, a mechanical conveyor, and a row of feeders supplied thereby, and. Fig. 2 .is a front elevation of,the same parts. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the condenser, conveyer, and one feeder, and the blower and the exhauster by which the air is forced through the pneumatic conveyor tube and exhausted from the condenser. Fig. 4 is'a side view of a feeder and a sectional view of the mechanical conveyor, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, showing particularly the automatic apparatus for controlling the de livery of cotton into the feeder.

The pneumatic conveyor for transferring the cotton from the opening room to the picker room may be of any usual or suitable form, and it is indicated in Fig. 3 by the tube 1 connected with the blower 2 by which the current of air and cotton is forced through the tube. The condenser 33 into which the cotton is delivered and by which it is separated from the air current may also be of the usual form. The air is exhausted from the condenser through a pipe 4 by an exhauster 5.

A mechanical conveyor for receiving the cotton from the condenser and distributing it to the feeders is indicatedin a, ,eneral way by the reference character 6. Til the illustrated embodiment of the invention it is in the form of an endless belt 7 passing over rollers 8 and actuated constantly by suitable power connections. The cotton is delivered by the condenser to the upper surface of. the belt and this portion of the belt moves constantly in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1) so as to carry the cotton away from the condenser. The sides ofthe belt areinclosed by l 34 and 35 to engage their respective dogs.

walls to retain the cotton thereon. The "leis 19 are arranged in. a row over which 1 onveyer 6 passes and above each feeder is an opening in the wall 9 through unith the cotton may be discharged from the conveyor into the hopper of the feeder.

he means by which the cotton is discharged on: the conveyor comprise swinging gates 1.1 arranged to form normally a portion of the .le walls of the conveyen'capable of swung into an oblique position across it as at 12 in Fig. 1 when it is desired i the cotton into the feeder. The CiJilBC QCd by'the gates out of the rings 10 1. the illustrated embodiment of the in .ion the means for operating the gates 11 o being actuated by suitable power connections and controlled by the T he automatic means r controlling the gates are shown particu- I Figs. i and 5, and are Constructed as h each feeder there is feeler l3 15 m com ri i parallel bars connected to the is re pivoted at 15 upon. supports se- 14 has an arm carrying toothed i ll} engaging a segmental 17 to i a weight ifs issecured by a lever arm. freight tends constantly to swing the inward. but so long as a suflicient supply of cotton remains in the feeder this tti dr-ncy resisted by the cotton and the fccier'is kept in the position shown in Fig. 4. 1

.5. tobenotcd,however,that thistcndcncvis and the less when the nnount of cotton in the receptacle is the This a feature hereinafter alluded o in connection with the operation ol the To t ne upper arm l.) of the 151' M is pivoted a shifter rod L2H which slides t-hmugh a hole in the end ol" an arm 21 i l The trip lever is pivoted pen a lever 2 1 pivoted at 25 lo the the feeder. The upper end ol' the coi'inci-ted by a link 20 with the which is pivoted at 27 lo the side he conveyor. link 28 is connected rank pin 20 on a constantly rolaling part of the feeder mechanism, and at its other cnd pivotally connected with a slide i ran ever 22.

23!) moving in a sh-cvc ill lixcdlolhclcw-r2 l. *5 the slide carried dogs 3-3; and It ,'lhc slide 34 and 85 is in position to engage a dog.

to the frame of the feeder. One of the T he trip lever 22 carries a spring actuated pawl 38 engaging a tooth 39 on the lever 24 and serving to keep it always to one side or the other so that one or the other of the a li ips lever 24 carries a roll 40 engaging a lever 41 pivoted at 42 on the frame of the conveyer and having a'notch 43 and a shoulder 44. by which the roll 40 and the lever 24 are retained in position after the gate has been fully opened or fully closed, the lever 41 being pressed upward by the spring plunger 45.

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 5, in which the feeler 13 is pressed back by a supply of cotton in the feeder and the gate 11 is open so asto permit the cotton to pass by Without discharging into the feeder, suppose the supply of cotton to diminish until the feeler moves to the left under the influence of the weight 18. The rod 20 will be drawn to the right and the collar 37 engaging the arm 21 of the trip lever will swing the trip lever so as to raise the arm 34 out of operative position and lower the arm 35 into position. to be engaged by the dog 33. Upon the next succeeding right-hand movement of the slide SOthe dog 33 will force the trip lever and the lever 24 to the right, thereby causing the gate 11 to be swung into oblique position across the belt to divert cotton therefrom through the opening in the wall opposite the gate into the feeder. It is to be observed that the stream severing end of the gate ('i. e, the portion of the gate that cuts the stream and initiates the ilow from the gate at that place) always projects in the direction oil-motion of the belt and never obstructs or interrupts the llowof the approaching cotton. The parts will remain in this position until the feeder is again filled, the dog 33 merely reciprocating idly after having moved. the trip lever to the right as far as it will go. When a sullir-icnt amount of cotton has accumulatml to again force the 'i'ccler back and. raise the weight it; the reverse opera-l ion will take placc and. the gate will open and cease to discharge cotton into the feeder.

it is to bc Ifotcd. that when the weight 18 is in raised position its tendency to fall and. to move the fecler is slight, owing to its position nearly above its pivotal support, while its cil'crlivcness is much greater when it is in its lowered position, with the arm upon which it is supported. in horizontal position. From this it results that after thowcight has fallen and. the gate has been opened. a considerable (pnintity of cotton must accumulate in the feeder brlorc lhc weighl will be overcome and the gallr-loscd, \\'llll altcr' enough rotton has urrunrnlalml to raise the wr ght a considerable diminution Joust-occur before the weight can again fall. This feature. is of importance to the best cml'iodilncnl.o'l' the invention since it prevents the automatic esaeeo mechanism from operating freiykuently upon inconsiderable fluctuations of t e amount of cotton' in the feeder, and secures the diverting. of cotton to the feeder when the amount oficotton therein falls below a certainminimum, and the cessation of the'di'scharge of I cottony upon the attainment of a certain maximum amount therein.

is'it'o be noted that with this construction whenthe. amount of cotton in the hopper tails to such an extent that it ap roaches the :niinimum, the Weight 18 will the osition shown in Fig.6 toward the horizonta thereby increasing its effectivenessto move the shifter. Also that when the amount-of cotton approaches the maxi mum, the weight 18 is raised towards the vertical, and therefore poses lessand lessthe movement of the fee er underthe influence of the cotton. {Thus the effectiveness of the weight to move the shifter increases when the cotton-recedes and decreases when the cot -ton increases 1n amount.

Although in the illustrated embodiment of the invention'the-mcans for periodically diverting the cotton on the conveyor belt into the hopper of the feeder are automatic and such an arrangement is preferable because it 'dispenseswith the necessity of constant attention on the part of the operative, the use of suchautomatic means is not essential to the Invention, 1n its broader aspects, 1'01 although the automatic apparatus be dispensed with and the gates be operated by hand, the apparatus, comprising, the pneumatic tube, b ow'ers, condenser, belt conveyer, and feeders, will still-constitute apparatus operating continuously to convey cotton from the opening room direct to the bre alrer-lappers or other machines-Without intermediate handling,-and with only such supervision as is necessary to open and shut the gates at the proper. times to supply the feeders as they become empty. Moreover, the invention is not limited to thedetails of construction set forth inthe description of the preferred embodiment, but maybe embodied in other formsbroadly definedby the claims.

What is claimed is I 1. An apparatus for conveying and distributing cotton to a plurality of receptacles arranged in a row, consisting of an endless belt constantly running in the same direc- I ton mills, having,

of receptacles, a (pneumatic conveyer, a con tion over the several receptacles, adapted to receive cotton at one end and to carry it over the receptacles, combined with '-n1eans at each receptacleautomatically controlled by the quantity of cotton therein, for diverting the cotton directly from the belt into such receptacles substantially as described.

2. Cotton distributing apparatus for cot in combination, a plurality denser connecte with said conveyer, a mechamcal conveyer constructed and arranged Furthermore, it.

ave moved to receive cotton from the condenser and to convey it to the receptacles andmeans for removing the cotton from the mechanical conveyor and diverting it into each receptaclesubstantially as described.

3. Cotton distributing apparatus for cot ton mills, having, in combination, a plurality of receptacles for cotton, a pneumatic conveyer, a condenser connected with said conveyer, an endless belt conveyor for transferring the cotton from the condenser to the receptacles, and a movablegatc at each rcceptacle for diverting the cotton from tho belt into the receptacle, scribed.

4. An. apparatus for conveying and distributing cotton to a plurality of receptacles arranged in a row, consisting of an endless belt constantly running in the same direction over the several receptacles, adapted. to receive cotton at one end and to carry it over the receptacles, combined with a gate at each receptacle for diverting thc'cotton directly from the belt into such receptacle and automaticmoans at each rcccptzu'lc for controlling the operation of the gate according to the amount of cotton inthe receptacle substantially as described. I

' 5. Cotton distributing apparatus for cotton mills, having, in combination, a receptacle for cotton, a conveym for supplying cotton thcrcto, a gate for controlling the delivery ol cotton from the convcycr into the receptacle, a iecler for detecting the amount of cotton in the receptacle, and mechanism controlled by the fcclcr for operating the gate, substantially as described.

Cotton distributing iLPIHHKLtUS for cotsubstantially as (lo-- ton mills, having, in combination, a rcccptacle for cotton, a conveyor for supplying cotton thereto, a gate for controlling the dclivery of cotton from the conveyor into the receptacle, mcclmnism for operating thc gate comprising a constantly operating powcr member normally disconnected from the gate, a iccler within the rcccptaclc, and con' gate-opnections between the icclcr and the crating mechanism for'tbrouzing the power member and the gate into operative connection, substantially as described.

7. An apparatus for conveying -and distributing cotton to a plurality of receptacles arranged in a row, consisting of a pneumatic conveyor, an endless belt constantly running in the same direction, the pneumatic conveyer discharging cotton upon the end of the endless belt to be carried thereby over the receptacles, combmcd with means at each receptacle automatically controlled by the quantity of cotton therein for diverting the cotton directly from the belt into such 1ecep,

tacle, substantially as described.

8. Cotton dlstributing apparatus for cotton nnlls, having, IILCOIHbIHBXJOH a pneumatioconveyer pipe, a blower, a condenser,

feeders in the same direction upon which eonveyer the condenser discharges cotton, and switches or dellectors at each feeder to divert the cotton from the belt conveyor into the 'l'ceders. su bstantinllyas described.

10. Cotton distributing apparatus for cotton'mills, having, in combination, a plurality of receptacles for cotton, a conveyer for supplying cotton thereto, and automatic means, comprising a power member, for controlling the discharge of cotton from the conveyer into each receptacle governed by the amount therein, substantially as described.

it. (otton distributing apparatus for cotton mills, having, in. combination, a plurality of receptacles for cotton, a conveyor for conveying cotton thereto, means at each receptacle for removing the cotton lIOII] the conveyor and diveitiug it into the receptacle, and automatic means actuated by power and controlled by the amount ol cotton in the receptacles for throwing the removing means respectively into and ,out of operation, substantially as described.

12. An zmparatus for conveying and distributiug cotton to a plurality of receptacles arranged in arow, consisting of a pneumatic conveyor, an endless belt constantly running in the same direction, the pneumatic convcyer discharging cotton upon the end of the endlcss belt to be tarrieththcreby over the receptacles, combined with a gate at each receptacle for diverting thecotton directly from the belt into such receptacle and automatic means at each receptacle for controlling the operation of the gate according to the amount oi cotton in the receptacle, substantially as described. I

13. An apparatus for conveying and dis tributing cotton to a plurality of receptacles arranged in a row, consisting of a pneumatic conveyor, an endless belt constantly running in thesame direction, the pneumatic conveyer discharginp cotton upon the-endless belt tobo carried thereby over the receptacles, combined with means at eaclrreceptacle for diverting the cotton directly from the belt into such receptacle without interrupting the [low of the approaching cotton, substantiallyasldpsrribed.

ll. (.otton distributing app n'atus l'or cot-- ton-mills, having, in, combination, a plurality I t 1 i of receptacles for cotton, a neurnatic conveyer, a condenser connecte with said conveyor, a mechanical conveyor connecting the for controlling the discharge of the cotton from the mechanical conveyer into each receptacle, according to the amount therein, substantially as described.-

15. An apparatus for conveying-and distributing cotton to a plurality of receptacles arranged in a row, consisting of a pneumatic 16. Cotton distributing apparatus for cotton mills, having, in combination, a receptacle, a conveyor for delivering cotton thereto, and means for controlling the delivery or cotton from the conveyor into the receptacle comprising a t'eeler located in the receptacle and a device tending to move the ieeler in the direction to cause the controlling means to deliver cot-ton to the receptacle, substantially as described.

17. Cotton distributing apparatus tor-obtton mills, having, in combination, a'receptacle, a conveyer for delivering cotton thereto, and means for controlling the delivery of cotton from the conveyor into the receptacle con-iprising a feeler located in the receptacle and a device tending to move the feeler in the direction to cause. the controlling means to deliver cotton to the receptacle acting with increased eil'ectiveness with a decrease in the amount of cotton in the receptacle, substantially as described.

18. An apparatus for conveying and dis condenser and the receptacles for continuously conveying a supply of cotton and autornatic.1neans,,1ncluding a power member,

trihutingcotton to a plurality of recepta-* cles, consisting of an endle'ssbelt constantly running n the same direction and a plural y ofindependent devices for diverting the cot ton from said belt into-each of said receptacles, said devices being'independently controlled by the amount of cotton in'each receptacle and located at intervals along the t; substantially as described. 19, Apparatus for distribut ng cQvton,

having, -in combination, a belt constantly running n t-he same direction, side walls-for the belth'avmg openings thcre1n,, and deilect'ors located opposite the openings through which they divert the cotton constructed to be ntoved into oblique position across the belt to divert the cotton therefrom,- ahvaysmaintaining their stream severing 20. Apparatus for distributing cotton,

having, in combination, a belt" constantly running in the same direction, side walls for the belt having openings therein, and dcflectors hinged opposite the openings through which they divert the cotton constructed to be swung into position obliquely across the belt to divert the cotton therefrom, always maintaining their stream severing ends projecting in the direction of motion of the belt so that they do not interrupt the flow of approaching cotton.

21. Apparatus "for' distributing cotton, having, in combination, a belt constantly running in the same direction, side walls for the belt having openings therein, deflectors located opposite the openings, and means for moving the deflectors into position obliquely across the belt to divert the cotton therefrom.

22. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, in combination, a belt constantly running in the same direction, side walls for the belt having openings therein, deflectors hinged opposite the openings. and means for swinging the deflectors into oblique position across the belt to divert the cotton there from.

33. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, in combination, a belt constantly running in the same direction over a plurality of receptacles, side walls for the belt hav ng openings therein, deflectors located opposite the openings, and means automatical y con trolled by the quantity of cotton in the receptacle for moving the deflectors into oblique position across the belt to divert the cotton therefrom.

24. Apparatus for" distributing cotton, having, in combination, a belt constantly running in the same direction over a plurality of receptacles, side walls for the belt having openings therein, deflectors hinged opposite the openings, and means automatically controlled by the quantity of cotton in the receptacles for swinging the deflectors into oblique position across the belt to divert the cotton therefrom.

25. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, incombination, a belt constantly running in the same direction, side walls for the belt having openings therein, deflectors located opposite the openings constructed to be moved into oblique position across the belt to divert lhe cotton therefrom, and means for holding the deflectors in diverting posit-ion.

26. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, in combination, a belt constantly running in the same direction, side walls for the belt having openings therein, deflectors hinged opposite the openings constructed to be swung into oblique position across the belt to divert the cotton therefrom, and means for holding the deflectors in diverting position.

27. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, in combination, a belt constantly running in the same direction, side walls for the belt having openings therein, and deflectors hinged opposite the openings at their ends nearest to or toward the end of the belt where the cotton is supplied thereto.

28. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having in combination, a belt constantly running in the same direction, side walls for the belt having 0 ienings therein, and .deflectors constructed to be moved into oblique position across the belt always maintaining their stream severing ends projecting in the direction of motion of the belt so that they do not interrupt the flow of approaching cotton.

29. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, in combination, a traveling belt, a gate, a gate-operating lever, a trip-lever pivotally mounted on the gate-operating lever, a reciprocating part, a sleeve on the gateoperating lever for supporting the reciprocating'part, means on said part for engagement with the trip-lever, having provision for accelerating thc tripping movement.

30. Apparatus ,for distributing cotton, having, in combination, a traveling belt, a gate, a gate-operating lever, a trip-lever pivotally mounted on the gate-operating lever, a reciprocating part, and means on said part for engagement with the trip-lever, having provision for accelerating the tripping movement.

31. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, in combination, a traveling belt, a gate, a gate-operating lever, connections between the lever and the gate and means for locking the gate.

33. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, in con'lbination, a traveling belt, a gate, a gate-operating lover, a link conn cting the lever and the gate, a hinge for the gate, and a part having a notch cooperating with the lever to hold the gate.

33. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, in combination, a traveling belt, a gate, a gate-operating lever, connections between the levcr and the gate, and a. part having a notch co perating with the lever and a stop cooperating with the gate which taken together are adapted to hold the gate in position.

34. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, in combination, a traveling belt, a gate, a ate-operating lever, connections between t ie lever and the gate, and a part having a notch in spring-controlled cooperation with the lever to hold the gate in position.

35. Apparatus for distr buting cotton, having, incombination, a traveling belt, a

gate, a gate operating lever, a constantly rotating power element, a reciprocatin part located in cooperative position with re ation to the lever and actuated by the power element, and means for connecting the reciprocating part and the lever.

36. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, in combination, an endless traveling cotton conveyer, a-recept-acle, means for discharging cotton from the conveyor into the receptacle, a lever operating such means, a reciprocating part, a feeler adapted to change its position with the quantity of cotton in the receptacle, and feeler-controlled means for connecting the lever and the reciprocating part.

37. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, in combination, a traveling belt, a receptacle, a gate for diverting cotton from the belt into the receptacle, a gate-operating lever, a reciprocating part, a feeler adapted to change its position with the quantity of material in the receptacle, and feeler-con trolled means for connecting the lever and the reciprocating part.

38. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, in combination, a traveling belt, a gate, a gate-operating lever, connections between the lever and the gate, and a part in -erative re ation to the lever, and means lor connecting the reciprocating part and the lever.

40. Apparatus for distributing cotton, having, in combination, a traveling belt, a gate, a gate-operating lever, a constantl reciprocating power operated part, a lever mounted on the gate-operating lever cooperative relation With the power opera part, a feeler, and feeler actuated means tripping the trip-lever to thereby connect I re reciprocating part with the gate-operating lever.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of" two Witnesses.

ALBERT H. non'ron.

/Vitnesses HoRAoE VAN Evnrmn, ALFRED H. HrLnnn'rr-r. 

